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As we reported on a few weeks ago, Apple has just released a brand new free universal iOS app, Podcasts.  Apple describes this as as being “the easiest way to discover, subscribe to and play your favorite podcasts on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Explore hundreds of thousands of free audio and video podcasts from the Podcasts Catalog, and play the most popular podcasts, organized for you by topic, with the all-new Top Stations feature.”

The app weighs in at 8.8 MB, requires iOS 5.1 or later, and supports iPhone 3GS, iPod Touch (4th Gen) or later and every iteration of the iPad.   “Podcasts” is the latest official Apple app to be released, joining a cast of successful titles including the iWork and iLife suites.

Podcasts app is the easiest way to discover, subscribe to and play your favorite podcasts on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Explore hundreds of thousands of free audio and video podcasts from the Podcasts Catalog, and play the most popular podcasts, organized for you by topic, with the all-new Top Stations feature.

Features:

– Enjoy all of your audio and video podcasts in a single app

– Explore hundreds of thousands of podcasts including shows in over 40 languages

– Try the innovative new Top Stations feature to find new podcast series in a variety of topics, including arts, business, comedy, music, news, sports, and more.

– Browse by Audio or Video podcasts, or see what’s most popular in Top Charts

– Tap subscribe for your favorites and automatically receive new episodes for free as they become available

– Stream episodes or download to listen while offline

– Skip forward and back using simple playback controls

– Turn on Sleep Timer to automatically stop playing a podcast while listening in bed

– Share your favorite episodes with friends using Twitter, Messages and Mail

– Optionally sync your favorite episodes from iTunes on your Mac or PC

– Sync your episode playback for seamless transition between devices

[tweet https://twitter.com/gavinsmith/status/217676480526815232]

Thanks to Ben for the tip!